Reagan & RFK questioned by Pakistani Student - 1967

Saturday 10pm & Sunday 4pm ET on C-SPAN3
Reel America: CBS News "Town Meeting of the World" - May 15, 1967
Fifty years ago, CBS broadcast an hour-long live program with Sen. Robert Kennedy (D-New York) and Gov. Ronald Reagan (R-California), taking questions via satellite from a group of international students in London. One of the participants was future U.S. Senator Bill Bradley (D-New Jersey), who was a student at Oxford. The topic was "The Image of America and the Youth of the World," and Kennedy and Reagan fielded critical questions about the Vietnam War. Prior to the program, we interview historian and Reagan biographer Paul Kengor, who has written about the broadcast.

[@charon2987]

imagine 1968 election: Robert Kennedy VS Reagan. history will be different

[@Thebadbadboogyman]

Yeah crazy to think Reagan could have won in an even bigger landslide than he did in ‘80 or ‘84

[@whatwhat5948]

@@Thebadbadboogyman Not a chance, remember 4 years before that was Goldwater, RFK would’ve won.

[@Thebadbadboogyman]

@@whatwhat5948 RFK would have been the biggest letdown the democratic party had seen up to that point in the general election. The country voted overwhelmingly republican in '68. The crime spikes around the civil rights movements moved people away from progressive politics.

[@whatwhat5948]

@@Thebadbadboogyman The country was not “overwhelmingly republican”, even Humphrey and Muskie were only .7% lower than Nixon in the popular vote, even with Humphrey being dragged down by being LBJ’s VP, RFK would have the benefit of being disassociated with LBJ, the Chicago riot would not have happened, and RFK’s personality would’ve won the election.

[@Thebadbadboogyman]

@@whatwhat5948 I never said the country was “overwhelming Republican” I said the country VOTED overwhelmingly republican. So go back and actually read what I said. To which, what I said was 100% factual. Nixon won 301 to Humphrey’s 191. The fact that RFK had a nice personality doesn’t correlate to a victory in the election. Many candidates have nice personalities

[@Howard007]

Two respectful gentlemen

[@OverLordthe1st]

Tell me how civilization can go backwards.

[@twonumber22]

By ignoring science.

[@aughalough1]

By voting in trump, he has taken us back a hundred years already !

[@deprogramm]

@@aughalough1 trump only won because of how bad things were before.

[@aughalough1]

DeProgram, you mean how bad GW Bush was because Obama/Biden had 75 months continuous growth!

[@deprogramm]

@@aughalough1 jokes are funny

[@psymi-hk1fp]

I love both these guys.... def light years better than most today

[@franknberry6397]

Hilarious when RFK asked Reagan if US should be in the peace talks and Reagan's reaction as he just stepped in it. Lol. Despite that Reagan acquitted himself very well in this "debate". RFK and others were surprised at his debating skills on foreign policy. Conservatives liked to say he won. He won simply by not screwing up. They were both good.

[@allaroundme5429]

I love raegans face when RFK addressed him. He was so full of shit he couldn't take it when someone talked sense. RIP RFK; the greatest president American never got the chance to have.

[@BeeHatGuy]

I read RFK's biography, and after the debate, he immediately said "Never put me against that son of a bitch again!"

[@zufgh]

I think even you yourself are understating the impact of Reagan rhetoric during the course of this program. As Henry Burris said up above, RFK was incredibly flustered and taken aback by Reagan's debating skills, chewing out one of his aides for putting him up against him and demanding that he never be made to debate him again.

[@franknberry6397]

@@zufgh Yes he was because Reagan was considered a lightweight by everyone at this point. He really had nowhere to go but up.. People who worship at his altar love to point to this debate and say he "won". General Electric groomed him and coached him for years. He didn't win because they barely even debated each other as the remarks were back and forth mostly with the student panel. Reagan was sharp giving his simplistic answers to complex issues that is the advantage in being a Conservative. Liberals get mired in the minutiae sometimes. But I think RFK was very good at trying to be humble and admit the mistakes that were made.

[@coppergolem8950]

Rfk was never president he just made a very good speech and he got assassinated by sirhan sirhan during the campaign

[@afrazkhitran812]

Love from Pakistan. ♥ I have to appreciate the way Kennedy responded him ♥

[@harmanjotsingh4230]

but Reagan totally destroyed him lol

[@noahjohnson935]

its a shame Robert was killed by a Palestinian national when he announced his support for Israel. I think he would have at least tried to reach a peaceful arrangement between Israel and Palestine that benefited both

[@noahjohnson935]

not Pakistan, Palestine. I am so sorry for my mistake and have corrected my previous comment

[@adamowen6226]

@@harmanjotsingh4230what are you talking about??? Robert Kennedy was superior to Reagan at that time

[@samuelperez2265]

The fact that America had these leaders at some point , doesn’t matter if you were a liberal or conservative in that point , both Rfk and Reagan were individuals in whom America would be in good hands

[@timmiestabrnak]

Except it was all a façade. Idk what became of Kennedy but when Reagan became president he did the exact opposite of what he declared here. He strictly opposed self-determination across the globe.

[@JA-yx9mq]

Daniel Clingen kennedy was killed man

[@V1Fleetz]

@@JA-yx9mq even RFK?!

[@wildfire9280]

That's far from the truth considering America was in one of their hands and has devolved in the same direction ever since.

[@AG-lh9ic]

Reagan was not good

[@ScrawnyRonnie89]

RFK would have made a great president. I think he underestimated how much evil was in the world (including his own party) and all the problems he was trying to solve single handedly. Ronald Reagan was also decent human being. He may have been "stuck in his ways" but he was respectful towards his colleges. I always wondered what he thought of RFKs untimely murder.

[@sharpaycutie2]

He and Jack knew they would die at some point 😢 his aid even saw it in his eyes, he knew he would get shot

[@DarthKieduss]

Reagan killed the unions and funded the Taliban. Reagan can burn in hell

[@him12672]

Damn, supreme American color TV outdoing B&W BBC tv.

[@humbertocellig]

Kennedy was way better prepared compare to Reagan. Actually in my opinion was going to be a great President indeed.

[@UserName0043]

That’s odd, because the consensus is Reagan won this debate. In fact, even RFK agreed that Reagan was the hardest debate opponent he ever faced.

[@Thebadbadboogyman]

I think your bias is coming out here Humberto. RFK swore after the debate to never have to debate Reagan again. RFK missed tons of questions on this debate and really was embarrassed.

[@matthewreagan2754]

Actually your lying Ronald Reagan is way better than John f Kennedy and JFK was simp

[@suyashjain6642]

Lol jfk was much better then regan in every sense. Avoided a nuclear war, avoided a civil war. Improved tax rates (which goes for regan too), decreased national debt(Regan sucked at this). Overall jfk much better.

[@UserName0043]

@@suyashjain6642 Lmao

[@nick56677]

My favorite (R) and (D) to listen to in one place. Awesome

[@michaelfrazier629]

You can tell rfk didnt like reagan

[@brianrunyon266]

Respect both of them. Was born in the later half of Reagan's presidency, in fact.

[@jessicarosesander]

So this is what a debate is supposed to look like huh

[@doomgloom8414]

RFK FOR PRESIDENT

[@vaniapinto8214]

He dead

[@user-yl2iy9sc8j]

@@vaniapinto8214 wish he wasnt

[@hadilol]

He's dead

[@robfrancis8690]

But he was a President. He is known as Jimmy Carter.

[@hadilol]

@@robfrancis8690 wtf

[@BillyBob-wg8gr]

RFK was furious after this. He knew he had botched and Reagan had vastly out-performed him. Told his aides to "never put me on the stage with that son of a bitch ever again."

[@joliecide]

Lots of folks including Nixon thought Reagan was an empty headed idiot. Reagan is now widely recognized among the top 10 US presidents in history.

[@birsay123]

Reagan’s first word is “well…”

[@erniemccracken2429]

Hehehe...he did say "well" a lot

[@lukecaverns]

Both are top 5 Americans in the last 60 years. Simply amazing. I wish I could've lived to see it.

[@bluedeparture]

I miss the Kennedy’s family what a fucking year 2020

[@rodger3352]

Same man :(

[@bryersbee9579]

Reagan RFK would be a lit chemistry

[@vaniapinto8214]

Bruh

[@matthewreagan2754]

Yeah

[@thatguywhosayshi7021]

Probably wouldn’t get along too well

[@adamowen6226]

They are both Irish Americans

[@Robsonski96]

Reagan was a great President (I consider him the best US President of all time) but I think that RFK would've been pretty good, too.

[@jugheadsrule]

Reagan was a racist dumbf$ck who spent most of his Presidency suffering from dementia. America and Latin America are still suffering the after effects from his Presidency

[@abangemirzaihanabangzulkip9502]

Reagan should've been a president during the 60s, he just has that 60s look in him.

[@redjirachi1]

We could've seen these two compete in the 1968 election

[@mc5967]

Then the CIA killed bobby

[@joliecide]

RFK was like a rapier, Reagan the club.

[@MohammedAli-zh8kf]

THIS KID WAS FROM EAST PAKISTAN

[@BB-xm6hy]

bangladesh

[@afrazkhitran812]

@@BB-xm6hy Then it was called East Pakistan! Except traitor bush regime in U SA, Pakistan has had great relation with America

[@josephlawson9950]

Rest In Peace rfk ps rfk was made into a movie called Bobby made my the coach of the mighty ducks

[@joecole5643]

They are only showing the few minutes where Kennedy does better. If you watched the whole debate it would be hard to conclude that Kennedy won. Even Kennedy admitted he lost

[@johnfkennedy5783]

Hi bro

[@osamabinladen824]

Wazzup bro

[@TheLastMillennials]

@@osamabinladen824 didn't you die in 2001 or 2002

[@carI_1]

@@TheLastMillennials 2012 actually.

[@matthewreagan2754]

@@carI_1 what did i missed

[@matthewreagan2754]

Hi there

[@e.nammavong410]

0:48 1:54

[@nn-gr7kw]

Agree with P. Reagan on this issue.

[@TimothyJonSarris]

Great debate…Kennedy clear winner

[@KyleHUNK]

Reagan was wrong. It's something else for Reagan to talk about criminal agencies, only to then slaughter millions in Central America with his contras, then having the U.S. be convicted for war crimes at the U.N. (see Nicaragua v. United States)

[@stevenyanchak5578]

Kyle Ruth Yo Kyle, now you're showing your ignorance in history. Do you have any facts and evidence to show that Millions were slaughtered? No of course not because it did not happen. Fyi: Reagan destroyed Kennedy in this debate.

[@jerrypeters2095]

Kennedy knew it also. Ted Kennedy talked about this debate once and said when they after the debate RFK yelled at his staff for setting him up to appear with Reagan. Little tidbit.. Bill Bradly is among the students.

[@BB-xm6hy]

@@jerrypeters2095 are you saying that RFK disliked Reagan for what he did or that he was upset that he got beat by Reagan? Sorry, i'm just not sure which comment you are responding to with "Kennedy knew it also".

[@jerrypeters2095]

@@BB-xm6hy RFK knew that he was overshadowed by Reagan. Ted Kennedy wrote about it. Ted Kennedy said from that point on he knew that Regan was the real deal.

[@BB-xm6hy]

@@jerrypeters2095 wow amazing. thank you !!

[@anthonymontes7556]

Rfk would of destroyed Reagan if they were against each other.

[@gregpaspatis9425]

Nixon speechwriter Patrick J. Buchanan stated he didn't believe RFK would have had enough delegates to get the nomination over Humphrey at the Chicago convention.

[@fareezamanzur-abdulmajid278]

Ronnie VS Bobby VS some Pakistani dude

[@AxmedBahjad]

I am an American. Thank God. RFK was a good debater as long as he was debating with another vanilla liar.

[@shihyuchu6753]

Ouch!

[@aimforlifenow]

lmaooooo

[@tomerzafon4]

2:02 - Does Reagan referring to the United States?...

[@justafellow797]

I r o n i c

[@ericacortez9787]

😻

[@Eric-lt3xq]

reagan was A disaster.

[@simplelogic9090]

Lol well he survived his shootings unlike the Kennedys.

[@Zug75]

rfk would beat reagan anyday

[@J.Rizza.]

Lol delusional, Reagan won the biggest non-incumbent, and then later the biggest incumbent landslides in electoral history

[@killj0y58]

Wrong!

[@MC-yy2bx]

2:00 Reagan says: " I don't think you can have a rebel force that is engaged in criminal activity having the distinction of sitting at the table as one of the representatives..." This shows how indifferent the Republican party is to the suffering of everyday people. "Rebels" as he calls them are REBELLING against TYRANNY. Do you really think that those that the rebels are rebelling against would EVER consider allowing said rebels to be HEARD ? It's the REASON they're rebelling in the first place - they're NOT being represented by their government ! Apply Reagan's statement to GEROGE WASHINGTON and his rebellion against England. Makes it a bunch clearer doesn't it ? The Colonists in New England ONLY wanted representation in the British Parliament, BUT like the modern day, elitist Republican party, they didn't believe in giving a voice to the oppressed. This interview is a good example of Reagan's elitist indifference to the plight of the working man. Just 14 years later, in 1981, as President of the United States he completely writes off the AIR TRAFFIC controllers who ONLY wanted better working conditions. He didn't give them "the distinction of representation at a table" of negotiations. He didn't listen to them at all. He merely SILENCED them by firing them AND black listing them from decent jobs for decades to come. What a cruel, cold hearted son of a bitch he was, and many people to this day say how wonderful he was - "The great communicator." Hah. HAH, I SAY !

[@larry1824]

Can either of you tell me where Pakistan is???????

[@johndanielson3777]

Fun fact: Bobby Kennedy was so humiliated by Reagan that Kennedy stormed out of the studio and said to an aide, “Never again put me on the stage with that son of a bitch.”

[@gkelly3566]

That didn't happen

[@aimforlifenow]

@@gkelly3566 how do you know this didn't happen lol

[@purnellery]

@@aimforlifenow how do you know it did

[@nick56677]

This indeed happened. Ted Kennedy confirmed so in 1981 when Pres Reagan gave RFKs widow the RFK medal. Ted stated rfk told him Reagan was the toughest debater he ever went against

[@bobc4368]

Evan pill guy

[@bobc4368]

watch this laugh lolololololo 🍪

[@robertpolityka8464]

Why didn't Reagan just say, the US shouldn't be at the table with terrorists who are treated with equal status as the countries of North Vietnam and South Vietnam?

[@harmanjotsingh4230]

thats exactly what he said

[@robfrancis8690]

Ronald Reagan was probably a character played by Joe Kennedy Junior, and Bobby, in all likelihood, went on to play the role known as Jimmy Carter. The Kennedy clan was approaching the peak of their clown powers at this time.

[@destruc9373]

Imagine if the USA had this kind of presidents nowadays. Despite the "Republican-Democrat" shit, it would be so much more peaceful

[@Tacamojoe2]

A veteran’s Perspective 🇺🇸Robert F. Kennedy jr. 🇺🇸 White House Bound 2024 Don’t vote for anyone less than the best.

[@matthewreagan2754]

Love it from india

[@LineMountain]

Reagan cleaned his clock!! RFK got his butt whooped!!

[@darylralph8971]

LineMountain How? With all that stuttering?....I don't think so!!!

[@shadmanahmed1343]

LineMountain Listen, u fucking commie. rfk said America should fight communism, Reagan said it should spread. If your a commie like u sound, good to hear you stand your ground. If not, stfu and either figure out where you stand or work on your interpretation skills.

[@aughalough1]

Robert F. Kennedy was ahead of his time, he found a way to connect with all of diversity ... kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXiXp32unp5-n9U

[@aughalough1]

Robert F. Kennedy cleaned his clock! RR got his butt whooped!

[@vascomarinho]

Both did good. Reagan was a great president and RFK was brilliant and way ahead of it’s time in social issues. Two great men